Modern Fiction

J. G. Ballard's apocalyptic novel evokes a world both decaying and teeming with tropical life forms. Introduced by Will Self, with illustrations by James Boswell.

Beryl Bainbridge’s award-winning portrait of life on board the Titanic is published for the first time alongside her own spectacular paintings.

The harrowing story of a British boy’s four-year ordeal in a Japanese prison camp during the Second World War, based on the author’s own wartime experiences. The first illustrated edition, featuring images by award-winning artist Tim Laing.

A collection of blood-curdling ghost stories destined to haunt the reader, presented with spookily atmospheric illustrations by David McConochie, winner of the 2015 Book Illustration Competition.

Kafka’s first novel follows the adventures of Karl Rossman, sent away from home after getting a maid pregnant. Part social satire, part coming-of-age novel, it is lighter in tone than the rest of his fiction, and owes a debt to a writer he hugely admired: Charles Dickens.

Kafka’s final novel, an unfinished masterpiece, tells the story of K., a land surveyor, and his struggles to gain admittance to the castle ...

A beautiful, elegiac portrait of love and loss amidst the Italian aristocracy on the eve of the Second World War. Using the acclaimed translation by Jamie McKendrick.

A collection of arresting short stories by the inimitable Flannery O’Connor, with illustrations by Deanna Staffo and an introduction by C. E. Morgan.

Umberto Eco’s paranoid world of conspiracy theories is as entertaining as it is enlightening.

Colm Tóibín introduces Hemingway’s early masterpiece.

One of the first books in the Folio Collectables range, this glamorous edition combines Lorelei Lee's scandalous jazz-age diaries with witty drawings by ffolkes.

A gloriously biting and witty story of an aristocratic family in decline. With their country seat falling apart, servants revolting and the bills mounting, all that the St Charles family will soon have left to rely on are their impeccable manners.

A noir classic, introduced by John Sutherland.

Arguably the greatest American novel of the 20th century, Fitzgerald's simple story of lost love has captivated readers, film-makers and fellow writers for generations.

The seedy decadence of inter-war Berlin is brought to life in a series of six short stories, illustrated with a selection of images by contemporary German artist George Grosz.

With a new introduction by the author, this brilliantly funny ghost story for children features integrated illustrations by artist Pam Smy.

‘Science fiction has monsters and spaceships; speculative fiction could really happen.’ Margaret Atwood’s chilling cautionary tale is illustrated by the Balbusso sisters.

In the first in his ‘trilogy of five’, Douglas Adams introduces us Earthbound readers to Zaphod Beeblebrox, the Babel fish, Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters and Marvin the Paranoid Android.

Kipling’s masterpiece: a panoramic portrait of India and a coming-of-age spy story. Newly illustrated by Oliver Hurst.

Renault's acclaimed novel, published in series with The Alexander Trilogy and introduced by the classical historian Robin Lane Fox.

Green’s parody of the country-house novel describes the life above and below stairs in Kinalty Castle, an isolated ‘gothic pile’. A modern classic brought to life with illustrations by Christopher Corr.

A witty crime caper from the author of The Moving Toyshop, with evocative illustrations by A. Richard Allen.

Evelyn Waugh's mordant satire on the funeral industry is illustrated with paintings by the great Beryl Cook OBE.

One of the most influential novels of the 20th century, it is both a gripping thriller and an ingenious parable about the nature of civilisation.

Voted the Booker of Bookers in 1993, this is a captivating allegory of modern India. With a new introduction by the author.

Poisoning, bloodstains, cups of tea and knitting – a superb collection of detective stories featuring the unassuming Miss Marple.

Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2005, this is an unforgettable, poignant story by the author of The Remains of the Day.

Set in a distinctly noir New York, these three hugely influential and ground-breaking stories unnervingly meld fiction and reality. 

Compelling romance, epic tale of misadventure, cutting parable of cultural imperialism, Peter Carey's Oscar and Lucinda is overwhelmingly a story of all-consuming passions.